Adventure Guides are headed to the Yadkin family branch YMCA in Yadkinville. Officials say the updated take on the Indian Guides program will give fathers a chance to be with their children.

"I've been trying to get it going the last six or eight months," said Yadkin YMCA Executive Director Tres Fordham. "It's a great way for dads to bond with their kids."

The program is in its beginning stages in Yadkin, Fordham said, but he's hoping interest will grow. Chapters are already present in other counties including Forsyth.

"It won't be as easy as Forsyth County branches," he said of growing the program. "If we can beat the bushes to get some interest up, it would be great."

The program will place up to 10 dads in one group -- circle -- with their children. Boys are Y-Guides and girls are Y-Princesses.

The program is for children from 5 to 11 years-old. Circles meet monthly at designated homes to sing songs, do crafts, play games and work on community projects.

Fordham said teaching children dignity, patience, endurance, spirituality, and concern for the earth and family values is at the core of the circles. He said he hopes to incorporate other Adventure Guide functions including Fall and Spring campouts, father-daughter Valentine's dances and trips to Camp Hanes in King into the program.

"Anything the group wants to do to get the fathers and children together is good," Fordham said. "It's about spending quality time together."

Currently, organizers are taking surveys and trying to generate interest in the program. The first meeting has yet to be scheduled until they see how many children and dads want to participate.

Fordham said the YMCA is not waiting for a large number of group members.

"We'll start with whatever we can get to get the program going," he said.

Fordham said a program like the Adventure Guides is vital to get dads to participate.

"Keeping our family units together and building our families, it is highly important," he said.

He should know. He was a Guide with his dad when he was seven years-old.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "He had just gotten back from doing a tour of service. I think it was a way for him to make time for me after being gone in Vietnam."

For more information, call 679-7962 or visit, www.yadkinymca.org.